Tea Brews

More on South Park Blocks Rogue Ales pub, Sisters Coffee Company in the Pearl and other restaurant news
A few more tidbits on the new Rogue Ales Public House planned for the South Park Blocks, Sisters Coffee Company’s Pearl District location, an inner Southeast Portland wine bar and a Thai switch in Sellwood.

Published Apr 27, 2011.
Read more: The Oregonian

If there is one medicine for fibromyalgia which has been proven effective in easing the usual vexing symptoms like disrupted sleep, depression and recurring pain, it’s got to be herbal. Nowadays, there are so many herbal remedies and brews that can put the three witches in Shakespeare’s Macbeth to shame. Herbs have emerged as a potent way to ease the symptoms of fibromyalgia, a form of arthritis that may result to mild to severe pain in the neck, jaw, shoulders, lower back, chest & rib cage, and hips, among other vulnerable body parts. Herbs can decrease pain and inflammation, stimulate hormones, bolster immune system functioning, and energize individuals enough to get into a regular exercise program and beat fibromyalgia. So what are some of these herbs that create a powerful brew to combat troublesome fibromyalgia? Considering that muscle aches & fatigue normally appear at the onset of fibromyalgia, one can go for herbal tea brews that can reduce the frequency and severity of pain while strengthening connective tissues, like dandelion.

Herbs with sedative properties like Passion flower, valerian and hops may also offer huge relief with their sedative and muscle-relaxing benefits. Note that before ingesting any of these herbal remedies, a doctor’s nod of approval must be secured first, lest they do not favor your particular health or body condition. Certain natural remedies that boost the immune system may come in handy not just for easing the symptoms or serving as perfect medicine for fibromyalgia, but for enhancing overall physical well-being. Astralagus, garlic, and echinacea are popular herbs that can help restore a compromised immune system. To repair the muscles and tissues, circulation must be boosted and oxygen & nutrients allowed to flow throughout the body. Herbs can play a vital role in facilitating this. Shiitake mushrooms used in traditional Chinese medicine, which can be soaked in boiling water for half an hour or in tap water overnight, and added to pasta, soups or some other entrée, likewise display strong immune-boosting properties that a fibromyalgia patient can benefit from.

Also offering soothing relief are teas made of burdock root, which contain antioxidants, body cleansing and immune system-enhancing properties. There’s also don quai, available in supplement form, which can ease muscle and joint pains. While herbs like Echinacea are not a magic potion for a chronic condition like fibromyalgia, they can relieve certain nagging symptoms. What natural medicine experts stress, though, is a holistic approach or comprehensive, integrated treatment, not just a single medicine for fibromyalgia. Other herbal options that your doctor may agree for you to use include olive leaf extract (400 mg of which may be use four times a day); gotu kola, which has been used in traditional medicine in India which can ease swelling, fatigue and pain; and turmeric, which is another anti-inflammatory herbal treatment for muscle pain. As for herbal remedies to ease sleep problems that come with fibromyalgia, valerian root and skullcap can offer restorative benefits, while ginseng can address sleep disorder-related fatigue. Work with your doctor to ascertain which herbal formulation is best for you.

Originally published here.

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Jessie Mcknight

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Royal Recipes: A Wedding Breakfast Fit For A Queen
If you plan to watch the royal wedding live on Friday, be prepared to wake up early — the ceremony starts at 6:00 a.m. EST. If you’re not quite sure what to eat at that uncivilized hour, British food writer Nigella Lawson offers one answer: Have a scone.

Published Apr 28, 2011.
Read more: NPR